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Episode: Mizkan’s Megan Frank on Modernizing 100-Year-Old Brands Without Losing Their Soul
Release Date: October 7, 2025
Hosts: Rachel Tipograph (MikMak Founder & CEO), Sarah Hofstetter (Profitero President)
Guest: Megan Frank (SVP of Marketing & R&D, Mizkan America)

Episode Overview

This episode delves into the art and science of modernizing century-old legacy brands without compromising their core identity and soul. Megan Frank, a seasoned marketer from Mizkan—home to brands like Ragu, Bertolli, and Zing Zang—shares how her company balances heritage with innovation, fosters a culture of agility even in a legacy-rich, family-owned business, and partners strategically with retailers to drive growth.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Complexity and Importance of Evolving Heritage Brands

• Why Rebrand vs. Evolve:
  Sarah shares her and Rachel’s experiences with rebrands, highlighting the delicate balance between refreshing a brand and not alienating loyal customers.

  • Quote:
    “Part of it is when you rebrand, how you don’t lose the goodness of what you have while still highlighting that something has changed.”
    — Sarah Hofstetter (03:35)

• Modernization Without Losing Soul:
  Megan insists that with century-old brands, retaining core identity—like logos, slogans, and what the brand stands for—is essential. Evolution, not revolution, is her preferred approach.

  • Quote:
    “The timeless foundations of brand equity should remain unchanged... Consistency in these brand elements helps build mental availability and salience.”
    — Megan Frank (08:22)

Mizkan’s Unique Brand Portfolio and Heritage

• Global Legacy Meets U.S. Innovation:
  Megan introduces Mizkan as a 220-year-old, 9th-generation family-owned company, recently expanding its U.S. portfolio with brands like Ragu, Bertolli, and Angostura bitters, and the new acquisition Zing Zang—the #1 Bloody Mary mix in the U.S.
  • Quote:
    “Zing Zang is obviously a legacy brand that’s well positioned to take advantage of some of these growing consumer trends.”
    — Megan Frank (07:39)

Enduring Brands: Fundamentals & Modern Activation

• Balance of Timeless & Timely:
  Megan shares how brands like Ragu remain relevant by anchoring to their heritage (the yellow lid, core value of mealtime convenience) while innovating through strategic partnerships such as with YouTube’s “Hot Ones.”
  • Quote:
    “We developed a limited edition co-branded Ragu Hot Ones Heat Pack... This LTO sold out on Amazon in a day.”
    — Megan Frank (10:24)

Navigating Culture and Operations in Family-Owned Enterprises

• Legacy vs. Agility:
  Megan outlines how Mizkan marries long-term legacy thinking with nimbleness by instilling a culture of empowerment and accountability, and by using frameworks like OGSM (Objectives, Goals, Strategies, and Measures) to align ambitions from the top down.

  • Quote:
    “The key to moving quickly for us is... building a culture of ownership and accountability where the team feels empowered at all levels to drive decision making.”
    — Megan Frank (14:24)

• Balancing Japanese Roots with U.S. Practices:
  The company’s blend of Japanese and American cultural values is managed by clarifying the unique value proposition and fostering continuous empowerment, experimentation, and pride in heritage.

  • Quote:
    “It’s really about building a culture of empowerment, making sure the team is very clear on the vision... building a culture of agility.”
    — Megan Frank (17:23)

Embedding Data-Driven Partnerships with Retailers

• Retailer as Strategic Partner, Not Just Customer:
  Megan details how Mizkan holds retailers accountable through joint business planning (JBP), grounded in transparent data sharing and mutual objectives—like category growth, penetration, and innovation.

  • Quote:
    “It is critical to treat retailers not just as customers but as strategic partners. And this means really clear mutual accountability.”
    — Megan Frank (19:18)

• Measuring and Optimizing Across Channels:
  Custom measurement models ensure Mizkan can optimize spend and marketing tactics rapidly, shifting budget to what works, and creating feedback loops for both internal teams and external partners.

Organizational Agility Post-COVID

• Restructuring for Modern Commerce:
  Megan describes how the pandemic accelerated the need for a digitally-native org structure, consolidating all "media-to-shelf" functions into one team and one agency, enabling Mizkan to act on data and optimize campaigns in real-time.

  • Quote:
    “We put all media to shelf responsibilities under the Connected Commerce team... under a single agency... which has allowed us to develop more seamless integrated plans and operate with greater agility.”
    — Megan Frank (22:09)

• Change Management:
  Because these were new capabilities rather than replacement, rollout was smoother, with buy-in tied to clearly communicated long-term company goals.

Culture & Courage: Personal Bravery

• Megan’s Bravest Career Move
  When asked the podcast’s signature question, Megan shares the story of taking on a demanding, global executive role while newly pregnant, and setting clear boundaries—a formative moment supported by leadership.
  • Quote:
    “One of the bravest things I’ve ever done was accepting a job leading Jim Beam globally when I was a few months into my pregnancy... The key for me was clearly defining upfront what the boundaries were.”
    — Megan Frank (24:42)

Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• On the Art of Rebranding:
  Sarah: “When you rebrand, how you don’t lose the goodness of what you have while still highlighting that something has changed.” (03:35)

• Megan on Core Brand Assets:
  “The timeless foundations of brand equity should remain unchanged... Consistency in these brand elements helps build mental availability and salience, driving brand association.” (08:22)

• Ragu x Hot Ones Collaboration:
  “We developed a limited edition co-branded Ragu Hot Ones Heat Pack... This LTO sold out on Amazon in a day.” (10:24)

• Empowering Teams in a Family Business:
  “The key to moving quickly for us is... building a culture of ownership and accountability where the team feels empowered at all levels to drive decision making.” (14:24)

• Retail Partnerships:
  “It is critical to treat retailers not just as customers but as strategic partners. And this means really clear mutual accountability.” (19:18)

• On Bravery and Boundaries:
  “Accepting a job leading Jim Beam globally when I was a few months into my pregnancy... The key for me was clearly defining upfront what the boundaries were. And I was super fortunate... to have a really supportive manager...” (24:42)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Brand Heritage & Rebranding — 02:56–06:08
• Mizkan Brand Portfolio & Recent Acquisitions — 06:16–08:02
• Enduring Brands: Strategies for Longevity — 08:22–10:54
• Balancing Legacy with Agility — 14:24–17:23
• Data-Driven Retailer Partnerships — 19:18–21:22
• Org Structure & Change Management — 22:09–24:33
• Bravest Career Moment — 24:42–25:23

Episode Tone

The episode is conversational yet insightful, blending warmth and humor with actionable, practical strategies for modernizing brands while preserving their essence. The dialogue is candid and peppered with relatable anecdotes from all three marketing leaders.

Takeaways for Listeners

• Evolve, don’t reinvent, legacy brands—be deliberate about what remains and what adapts.
• Foster a culture of empowerment, agility, and experimentation for both people and processes.
• Treat retailers as partners—set mutual objectives and leverage data as a shared language for accountability.
• Organize for the future—integrate "media-to-shelf" efforts and iterate rapidly based on results.
• Leadership is about setting boundaries and advocating for yourself, even during career-defining challenges.